Temperature control apparatus and method for thermoregulation of a human body

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a temperature control apparatus for thermoregulation of a human body, comprising at least one radiation absorption panel with at least one surface capable of absorbing thermal radiation, and a cooling device provided to cool said panel. A sleeping accommodation for a human being comprises a lying area and such a temperature control apparatus, wherein the radiation absorption panel is disposed adjacent to the lying are or above the lying area. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for thermoregulation of the human body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of a temperature control apparatusfor thermoregulation of human body, as well as to a correspondingmethod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For the well-being of humans, the body temperature is an importantfactor. Obviously the human body temperature is affected by a number ofparameters that can be roughly divided into internal body parameters,depending on the body activity of the respective human being, andexternal parameters depending on the environmental conditions.

More specifically, the temperature condition of a human body can bedescribed by skin and core body temperatures, which are both controlledby human physiology. The skin temperature is a result of delicatebalance of body parameters like the metabolic rate production,behavioural and physiological vasodynamics, the sweating rate and so on,but also of environmental parameters like the air flow in skinproximity, air humidity, air temperature and radiation heat exchangewith the environment. According to general experience, the perception ofwell-being of a human being can be affected by changing suchenvironmental conditions to regulate the skin temperature. A well-knownexample is common air conditioning of a room in which humans aresituated. By changing the air temperature and air humidity in the room,a comfortable climate can be provided.

One important field of thermoregulation of a human body is to providecomfortable sleeping conditions in a sleeping accommodation, forexample, at a bed disposed in a bed room. Because the heat production ofthe human body varies cyclically through the night from estimated 200 Win the evening to less than 100 W in the midnight, raising again in themorning hours, people usually cover themselves with blankets tocompensate the smaller heat production. However, to regulate the skintemperature, the room temperature has to be set to an appropriate levelfor providing optimal sleep conditions. According to the state of theart, this is achieved by controlling the air temperature of the room byheating/cooling devices. For example, document JP03072173 discloses theuse of a radiation heating plate for conditioning the air in a zoneabove the lying area of a bed.

The drawback of such known methods is that the skin temperature of therespective human being can only be controlled indirectly by changing theair temperature of the whole room. That is, it is impossible to changethe microclimate at the sleeping accommodation without changing roomcondition. Generally speaking, it is desired to adjust the skintemperature of a human in a more direct way than it is possible withtraditional methods.

This problem also arises in other situations that are not related to asleeping condition, for example, in a passenger compartment, a workingplace or at any other site where humans are located. There can beseveral reasons for dispensing the use of a traditional airconditioning, for example, to avoid an air flow or to adjust amicro-climate in situ at a place where one person is located, that canbe different from other places. Just to give one example, the drivingseat of a vehicle could be temperated different from the passengerseats. According to the state of the art, complex air conditioningarrangements have been developed to provide this feature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a temperature controlapparatus for thermoregulation of a human body that provides arelatively simple way of adjusting the skin temperature of a human beingdirectly, avoiding the drawbacks of common air conditioning.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a temperaturecontrol apparatus enabling a direct and easy control of the skintemperature of a human being in sleeping state, being located at asleeping accommodation.

Still one further object of the invention is to provide a correspondingmethod for thermoregulation of a human body to adjust the skintemperature of a human being without the drawbacks and limitations ofcommon air-conditioning.

This object is achieved by a temperature control apparatus forthermoregulation of a human body, comprising at least one radiationabsorption panel capable of absorbing thermoradiation and a coolingdevice providing to cool said panel.

This temperature control apparatus is based on the functional principleof radiation absorption. Heat that is radiated from the skin of thehuman being is absorbed by a panel with good absorption properties,especially in the range of infrared radiation. For this purpose thepanel can be arranged in a close distance to the user's skin, to coverat least a part of the human body so that the radiated heat from theuser's skin is absorbed by a surface of the panel. Thus, a heatextraction is a achieved to adjust the skin temperature to a comfortablelevel. This is a contactless temperature control, without the need of anairflow or the like to provide a heat exchange with the skin. Moreover,such a temperature control apparatus works selectively and well-directedwithout influencing the environmental surrounding of the site where thetemperature control apparatus is located.

For example, such an apparatus could be located at a sleepingaccommodation like a bed where a human being is located. The skintemperature of the human could be adjusted as described above, while thebed room air temperature would not be perceivably affected by theoperation of the apparatus according to the present invention.Furthermore, the panel has the additional function of blocking thermalradiation from the environment that could contribute to a rise of theskin temperature. The absorbed heat is discharged by a cooling devicethat is provided to cool the panel. Any suitable device can be used inthe context of the present invention. The skilled man would choose theoperational principle of the cooling device according to aspects ofpower consumption, efficiency, noise development or the like.

The temperature control apparatus according to the present invention isespecially suited for the purpose of adjusting the skin temperature of asleeping human being easily and effectively. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this application. Other applications couldinclude the thermoregulation of a working place, a seat in a vehicle orthe like.

According a preferred of the present invention, the radiation absorptionpanel is formed at least partially of a material capable of absorbingthermal radiation.

For example, the panel could consist completely of a material with ahigh absorbency in the infrared range, so that thermal radiation iseffectively absorbed. It can be further presumed that only a part ofthis panel is formed of such a material with high absorbing capacity.This could be a layer on the surface that is directed to the human bodywhich is to be thermoregulated.

According to another preferred embodiment, said panel comprises aninsulating layer covering at least one surface of the panel capable ofabsorbing thermal radiation and having a low thermal conductance as wellas a high transparency for thermal radiation.

Such an insulating layer separates the cool surface absorbing thermalradiation from humid environmental air, avoiding the condensation ofwater contained in the air on the surface of the panel. This greatlyenhances the cooling efficiency.

Preferably the insulating layer is provided as a sandwich layercomprising at least two layers formed of a material having a hightransparency for thermal radiation, said layers being separated by anair layer or a layer mainly comprising air.

According to another preferred embodiment, said cooling device is athermoelectric cooling device, a water cooling device or a refrigeratingcooling device. In thermoelectric cooling, a heat flux is createdbetween the junction of different types of materials arranged indifferent layers due to the Peltier effect. However, other types ofcooling a perfectly suited for the application according to the presentinvention. Water cooling may use a water cycle in which water flows tothe panel to be heated by the absorbed heat, and the cooling water iscooled down again by a respective cooling unit. In a refrigeratingcycle, a refrigerant is expended and compressed to cool down theradiation absorption panel.

Preferably said panel is provided as a curved plate.

According to another preferred embodiment, the panel is provided as aceiling panel or wall panel of a room or compartment.

In this case the panel can be installed as part of the lining of a roomor a passenger compartment, for example, in a vehicle.

The present invention further relates to a sleeping accommodation for ahuman being, comprising a lying area and a temperature control apparatusaccording to the present invention, wherein the radiation absorptionpanel is disposed adjacent to the lying area or above the lying area.

In this arrangement, a sleeping human being located on the lying area ofthe sleeping accommodation can be thermoregulated specifically by thetemperature control apparatus, while the sleeping accommodation itselfis located in a room with conditions that are regulated by commonair-conditioning or heating. That is, the skin temperature of thesleeping human being can be thermoregulated selectively by thetemperature control apparatus according to the present invention whilethe remaining area of the room is not affected by this regulation.

According to a preferred embodiment of this sleeping accommodation, thelying area is formed by the top surface of a bed.

According to another preferred embodiment, the panel is curved toenclose the lying area at least partially.

The present invention is further related to a method forthermoregulation of a human body, comprising arranging a radiationabsorption panel in a vicinity of the human body to absorb thermalradiation emitted by the human body, and cooling said panel.

In a preferred embodiment of this method, the human body is covered atleast partially by said panel.

According to another preferred embodiment of the method according to thepresent invention, the cooling is performed as thermoelectric cooling,water cooling or refrigerating cooling.

Preferably this method comprises providing the radiation absorptionpanel with an insulating layer having a low thermal conductance and ahigh transparency for thermal radiation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from andelucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a bed that represents a sleepingaccommodation comprising a temperature control apparatus as oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a temperaturecontrol apparatus for thermoregulation of a human body according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 3 is a scematic cross section through a radiation absorption panelas part of a temperature control apparatus according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sleeping accommodation 10 for a human being12. This sleeping accommodation 10 comprises a bed 14 with a mattress16, the top surface of the mattress 16 representing a rectangular lyingarea for the human being 12. The head of the human being 12 is lying ona pillow 18, while the rest of her or his body is covered by a blanket20.

The sleeping accommodation 10 in FIG. 1 further comprises a temperaturecontrol apparatus 22 for thermoregulation of the body of the human being12 that is sleeping in the bed 14. This temperature control apparatus 22generally comprises a radiation absorption panel 24 and a cooling device26 for cooling the panel 24. FIG. 1 schematically indicates a connection28 between the panel 24 and the cooling device 26 to clarify that thecooling device 26 should be connected to the panel 24 in any way toprovide the cooling. However, the kind of connection 28 depends on theconstruction and the operation principle of the cooling device 26, whichwill be described later.

The panel 24 is provided to absorb thermal radiation that is emitted bythe body of the human being 12. For this purpose at least one side 30 ofthe panel 24 that is facing the human being 12 is capable of absorbingthermal radiation, that is, radiation in the domain of the infraredoptical range. For example, it is possible to form the panel 24 of aplate capable of absorbing thermal radiation and to cover one surface ofthis absorption plate by an insulating layer having a low thermalconductance and a high transparency for thermal radiation. Details ofsuch a construction will be discussed in detail in view of FIG. 3.

Due to the absorption of thermal radiation, the panel 24 is slightlyheated. The absorbed heat is discharged by the cooling device 26 via theconnection 28 to keep the panel 24 on a low temperature. With otherwords, the panel 24 is permanently cooled by the cooling device 26. Thepanel 24 can be cooled down to a temperature lower than theenvironmental temperature in the room where the sleeping accommodation10 is located. For example, the panel 24 is cooled down to a temperatureof t_(panel) of +10° C., while the room temperature t_(room) is +20° C.Experiments have shown that this results to a perceived operationaltemperature of t_(perception) of +14° C. that is perceived by the humanbeing 12. This means that by use of the temperature control apparatus 22shown in this embodiment, the human body 12 can be thermoregulated to alow skin temperature by extracting the heat that is radiated from her orhis body, without any air-conditioning in the room. Another operationalfunction of the plate 24 is to block thermal radiation from theenvironment from reaching the body of the human being 12. This blockingfunction is also achieved by the absorption properties of the materialof the panel 24.

In another example, with a higher room temperature of t_(room) of +30°C. and a panel temperature of t_(panel) of +10° C., an even largereffect, namely a temperature drop of 11° C. down to a perceivedoperational temperature t_(perception) of 19° C. is achieved by thethermoregulation effect of the temperature control apparatus 22 asdescribed above. The panel 24 is curved to enclose the upper part of thebody of the human being 12 partially. In FIG. 1 it is shown that theplate 24 is curved like one quarter of an elliptical body, reaching froma side area (right side of the user, which is the upper part of FIG. 1)around the pillow to a head portion of the human being 12 (right side inFIG. 1). By this curvature, the upper right body side of the human being12 is thermoregulated by absorbing the thermal radiation originatingfrom his body. It can, of course, be assumed that the radiationabsorption panel 24 can take any other suitable form or having anothercross section than shown in this embodiment. The panel 24 can also coverthe human being 12 not only from the side, i.e. being disposed adjacentto the lying area, but being curved to extend also partially over thelying area to enclose the human body partially like the section of acocoon.

The cooling device 26 can operate according to any suitable coolingprinciple. For example, the cooling device 26 can be a water coolingdevice, comprising a circular flow of water (or any other suitablecooling medium) between the cooling device 26 and the panel 24. Coolwater is supplied to the panel 24, where it is heated due to the raisedtemperature of the panel 24. The heated cooling water flows back to thecooling device 26, where it is cooled down again. In this embodiment theconnection 28 between the panel 24 and the cooling device comprises thecooling circuit for circulating the cooling water. According to anotherembodiment, the cooling device 26 is provided as a thermoelectriccooling device comprises a Peltier element. In a third embodiment, thecooling device 26 comprises a refrigerating cooling cycle comprising arefrigerant circulating between the cooling device 26 and the panel 24.Such a refrigerating cycle comprises a compressor, an evaporator and anexpansion valve. When the compressed refrigerant enters the panel 24, itcan be expanded to absorb heat from the panel 24 to be converted into agas state and be transported back to the cooling device 26, where it iscompressed again. Such a refrigeration cycle is well-known from thestate of the art and can well be applied to a temperature controlapparatus 22 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the temperature control apparatusaccording to the present invention. In this application, the temperaturecontrol apparatus generally denoted by reference number 32 serves tocool an office working place 34 comprising a desk 36 and a seat where ahuman being 12 is sitting. This working place 34 is located in adetermined area to be thermoregulated by the temperature controlapparatus 32.

The general construction of the temperature control apparatus 32 in FIG.2 is the same as for the temperature control apparatus 22 in FIG. 1.This temperature control apparatus 32 comprises two radiation absorptionpanels 38,40 that are capable of absorbing thermal radiation radiatedfrom the body of the human being 12. Both panels 38,40 are cooled by acooling device 26 down to a temperature below the temperature of theroom where the working place 34 is situated.

The first panel 38 is located directly above the head of the human being12 and is provided as a ceiling panel that is integrated directly intothe ceiling of the room. Therefore the installation of this panel 38does not deteriorate the outer appearance of the room ceiling. Thesecond panel 40 is provided as wall panel that it is integrated directlyin to a wall adjacent to working place 34. Both panels 38,40 areprovided with a surface capable of absorbing thermal radiationoriginating from the human being 12, like in the embodiment in FIG. 1.By the absorption of thermal radiation, the skin temperature of the bodyof the human being 12 is lowered so that the human being 12 feels morecomfortable. To discharge the heat from the two panels 38,40, the samecooling device 26 as in FIG. 1 can be provided that it connected bydifferent connections 42,44 to the respective panels 38,40. In FIG. 2,these connections 42,44 are only indicated schematically. However, thekind of connection may depend on the operation principle of the coolingdevice 26. As in the first embodiment, the cooling device 26 can bethermoelectric cooling device, a water cooling device or a refrigerationcooling device.

Like the bed 14 in FIG. 1, the working place 34 in FIG. 2 onlyrepresents one example of the zone in which a human being 12 is locatedthat is to be thermoregulated independent from the surrounding. Forexample, the ceiling panel 38 can be integrated in a ceiling of apassenger compartment of a vehicle above a seat to manipulate themicroclimate below the panel 38. Any other applications are conceivable.

With reference to FIG. 3, a cross section of a radiation absorptionpanel 24 will be discussed, like it is used in the temperature controlapparatus 22 according to FIG. 1. As already stated above, a panel ofthis construction can also be used in the temperature control apparatus32 according to FIG. 2.

The radiation absorption panel 24 comprises a plate 50 formed of amaterial capable of absorbing thermal radiation. On a side 30 determinedto face a human being (not shown) for absorbing thermal radiationoriginating from her or his body, which is the right side in FIG. 3, thesurface of this plate 50 is covered by an insulating layer 52. Ingeneral, this insulating layer 52 has a low thermal conductance but ahigh transparency for thermal radiation. These properties are achievedby providing the insulating layer 52 as a sandwich layer, comprising twolayers 54 and 56 each formed of a material having a high transparencyfor thermal radiation and being separated by an air layer 58. This airlayer 58 is formed by a plurality of cellular pockets 60 filled with airand being arranged side by side between the two layers 54 and 56.Because air has good heat insulating properties, the air layer 58provides a good thermal insulation of the plate 50 with respect to theenvironmental air on the side 30 that is covered by insulating layer 52.By this construction a direct contact between the environmental air andthe plate 50, that is cooled down by the cooling device (not shown), canbe avoided. Consequently, the condensation of water contained in the airon the surface of the plate 50 is prevented, enhancing the coolingefficiency of the panel 24. It can also conceived to form theintermediate layer 58 of any material containing air, like a foammaterial, for example. In this case the material forming the layer 58should also have a high transparency for thermal radiation.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, such illustration and descriptionare to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; theinvention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variationsto the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by thoseskilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study ofthe drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims,the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and theindefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The merefact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependentclaims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot beused to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not beconstrued as limiting the scope.

1. The temperature control apparatus for thermoregulation of a humanbody, comprising at least one radiation absorption panel capable ofabsorbing thermal radiation and a cooling device provided to cool saidpanel, wherein said panel comprises an insulating layer covering atleast one surface of said panel capable of absorbing thermal radiation,said insulating layer having a low thermal conductance and a hightransparency for thermal radiation, said insulating layer is provided asa sandwich layer comprising at least two layers formed of a materialhaving a high transparency for thermal radiation, said at least twolayers being separated by an air layer or a layer mainly comprising air.2. The temperature control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidpanel is formed at least partially of a material capable of absorbingthermal radiation.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. The temperaturecontrol apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cooling device is athermoelectric cooling device, a water cooling device or a refrigeratingcooling device.
 6. The temperature control apparatus according to claim1, wherein said panel is provided as a curved plate.
 7. The temperaturecontrol apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said panel is providedas a ceiling panel or wall panel of a room or a compartment.
 8. Asleeping accommodation for a human being, comprising a lying area and atemperature control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theradiation absorption panel is disposed adjacent to the lying area orabove the lying area.
 9. The sleeping accommodation according to claim8, wherein said lying area is formed by the top surface of a bed. 10.The sleeping accommodation according to claim 8, wherein the panel iscurved to enclose the lying area at least partially.
 11. A method forthermoregulation of a human body, comprising: arranging a radiationabsorption panel capable of absorbing thermal radiation in the vicinityof the human body to absorb thermal radiation emitted by the human body,wherein said panel comprises an insulating layer covering at least onesurface of said panel capable of absorbing thermal radiation, saidinsulating layer having a low thermal conductance and a hightransparency for thermal radiation, said insulating layer is provided asa sandwich layer comprising at least two layers formed of a materialhaving a high transparency for thermal radiation, said at least twolayers being separated by an air layer or a layer mainly comprising air,and cooling said panel.
 12. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe human body is covered at least partially by said panel.
 13. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein said cooling is performed asthermoelectric cooling, water cooling or refrigerating cooling.
 14. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein said method comprises providingsaid radiation absorption panel with an insulating layer having a lowthermal conductance and a high transparency for thermal radiation.